FAR EASTERN DIVISION Sal/alkali Church Dedicatiom By Mrs. Hazel Howard Peters The new church building in Sandakan, Sabah (formerly North Borneo), which was dedicated on September 18, 1965. The church members formerly met in the old frame house seen at the left. P. SORENSEN, president of C the Far Eastern Division, and H. W. Bedwell, president of the Southeast Asia Union, both from Singapore, were guests who took part in the dedication service of the new Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sandakan, Sabah, formerly North Borneo, located at Beatrice Road, on Sabbath afternoon, September 18, at 3 o'clock. Pastor Sorensen was the guest speaker for this dedication service, and Pastor Bedwell offered the dedicatory prayer. Pastor Andrew Peters, president of the Sabah Mis- sion, gave the welcome, after which Pastor Chin Kong Loi, pastor of the Sandakan Church, and Mr. Cheah Sin Boo read Psalm 100 in Chinese and English, respectively. The reading of the Scripture was followed by prayer by Pastor V. L. Interior view of the new Sandakan church. Kon, retired pastor from Bangkok, VOLUME FIFTY-ONE NOVEMBER, 1965 NUMBER ELEVEN who was visiting his old home town of Sandakan. Following Pastor Sorensen's dedi- catory sermon, Pastor Samuel Tsai, pastor of the Jesselton Church, read the Act of Dedication, which was followed by Pastor Bedwell's dedi- catory prayer. Mr. Cheah gave an instrumental solo, "Bless This House." A liberal thank offering was received from those present for the dedication service. The congregation took part in the singing of the hymn, "The Church Has One Foundation." This beautiful church building was designed by Mr. Parker Kwan of Sandakan, and he was present for the dedication of this lovely Pastor C. P. Sorensen delivering the dedicatory sermon for the new monument for God in Sandakan. Sandakan church. Pastor Chin Kong Loi, pastor of the church, translated Approximately 150 people attended the sermon. the service. In the morning, the members had met for the first time for their Sab- bath school and church service in this brand new building. The Sab- bath morning sermon was given by Pastor Bedwell. Pastor V. L. Kon conducted the first baptism ;n the new church when five candiates were baptized. The dedicatory serv- ices were held in the afternoon. South Philippines Basilan Island and Muslim Conversions By T. C. Cabuluna, President Western Mindanao Mission ASILAN ISLAND is about 178 miles in circumference. It is Bsurrounded by many small islands. Officials who participated in the dedication service: Left to right: Mr. The soil is so fertile that the people Cheah Bin Boo, Pastors V. L. Kon, H. W. Bedwell, C. P. Sorensen, call it "treasure island." It is cover- Andrew Peters, Chin Kong Loi, and Samuel Tsai. ed with beautiful hills and moun- tains. Many beautiful streams flow Mr. Parker Kwan, the architect who designed the Sandakan church, was over the lowlands and water the present for the dedication. In the picture he is seen handing the key to rice fields. The riches of God's the door to Pastor Andrew Peters. handiwork in the beauty of nature are well manifest on this island. The island is almost entirely in- habited by Muslims. They are divid- ed into many tribes but the three main tribes are well scattered over this big island. These tribes differ largely from one another in char- acteristics and costumes. The Iya- kans are the most law abiding of these tribes. The educated Muslims are from this tribe. The second tribe is the Taosogs. They are war like and therefore less progressive. A third tribe is called Badjaos and they are looked down upon and considered the lowest class. They are content to live in bancas over Niere and Brother C. S. Rosco to work for our Muslim friends. They started preaching in February, 1964, and continued their effort for four months. Surely God blessed their work and dormant seeds of truth implanted by the former servants of the Lord, plus many more newly- sown seeds, together found the way to fruitage. In the month of June, 1965, 24 souls were baptized, mostly from the Muslim faith, and there was great joy and gratitude among the workers and laymen in the area. Two very important Muslim la- dies with royal blood have cast their lot with God's advent people. One is Sister Aida Salih, called Dayangdayang Jahida by the Mus- lims of Lamitan where she lives, or Princess Jahida by her Christian friends. She is the niece of Princess Tarhata of Jolo and of Sultan Ki- ram of North Borneo. The other young Muslim lady is Sister Vic- toria Norma Salih, a cousin of Ai- da. She is also highly regarded by the inhabitants of Basilan. Severe Trials for the Muslim Ladies At the outset, while young in faith, these ladies met with severe trials. The removing of the orna- ments and jewelry from their dec- orated bodies brought great mock- ery upon them. Their persecuting Aida Salih (right) and Victoria Norma Salih (standing, center) are recent relatives told them that they would converts from Mohammedanism. District Leader C. S. Rosco is at be considered dead or outcasts the left. from the higher social circles to which they had formerly belonged. the water around the island. They vert that first year, making the They were told that without the hunt and fish for their food and total membership of the Sabbath ornaments they are just as naked never care to get an education. school just four. No one among as those without garments and are Basilan Island has a population the Muslims enbraced the message. thus deserving of the mercles of of 300,000 people, more or less. In 1932 Pastor Sumicad was moved onlookers same as the beggars. Today many immigrants from other to Davao and Basilan Island was But these noble ladies bravely countries seek new homes on this left without a successor for eighteen answered that they would rather beautiful island. The plantations years. suffer going along life's highway that there are on the fertile is- In 1950, Pastor Basconsilio was naked and as outcasts than to stick land are owned by foreigners from sent to Zamboanga City to launch to the ancient faith that is without Europe and America. We are an- an effort which he was advised to God and gives no assurance of sal- ticipating the time when our own conduct at Lamitan, the largest vation. This is indeed a wonderful Filipinos will occupy the remaining town of Basilan Island. He stayed manifestation of the wonderful uncultivated areas and thus keep there for one year but not a single workings of the Holy Spirit upon the wealth and splendor in the Muslim convert. This simply reveals the hearts of men. hands of our own people. how hard it was to win these Mus- In the accompanying picture, Sis- The work of evangelizing the lim friends away from Moham- ter Aida is standing at the left of island is of interest too. In 1930 medanism. A few interests were her cousin, Victoria, who joined this island was still a part of the slowly reviving but a change of her in the baptism. With them is East Visayan Mission. The mission assignment for Pastor Basconcilio C. S. Rosco, the district leader of committee voted for the late Pas- came and thus he did not realize the area who worked with Pastor tor Sumicad to evangelize the Mus- any fruits from his year of toil. Niere in the crusade. We solicit lims. He was the first missionary Fourteen more years elapsed with your prayers for the elderly lady, to speak Taosog. He was able to few developments in the penetra- Victoria's mother, and her husband organize the first Sabbath school on tion of our message into this fair who are now receiving Bible studies the island in 1931, in a house owned island. In 1964, Western Mindanao from Miss A. Leopoldo, our Bible by a certain Mrs. Andrea Rubio, Mission, to which Basilan presently instructor for that area. Seven more an Bocana from Ilocos Norte. It is belongs, sent two energetic evangel- souls are being prepared for bap- reported that she was the only con- ists in the persons of Pastor D. M. tism. All are Muslims. 4 FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK November, 1965 THE Biennial Council of the Far Eastern Division is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong Novem- Division lgiennial Council iii _Hong Kong ber 29 to December 7, according to Pastor C. P. Sorensen, Division President. By D. A. Roth, Assistant Delegates from throughout the Division Secretary entire territory of the Far Eastern Division are expected to attend. General Conference representatives to the meeting will include Pastor W. E. Murray, Vice-President; Pas- tor K. H. Emmerson, Assistant Treasurer; Pastor J. Ernest Edwards, Secretary of the Home Missionary Department; and Pastor W. A. Higgins, Associate Secretary of the Publishing Department. The biennial council will be pre- ceded by two advisory councils—the Publishing and Home Missionary Departments. Other meetings to take place in Hong Kong include that of the Publishing Sales Devel- opment Committee; the Board of Regents; and the Far Eastern Acad- emy Board of Trustees. According to Pastor Sorensen, many important items will be taken up during the days of the Council including appropriations for 1966; election of union mission officers; and general plans for the progress of the work of God for the next year in the Division territory. This is the first time in a number Pastor W. E Murray of years that the meeting has been Pastor H.